Handmade Bicycle Show Australia

2018

The Handmade Bicycle Show Australia has passed through the halls of the majestic Meat Market of North Melbourne, but for those unable to attend I spent the weekend roving the room and documenting a bike from each exhibitor (which will form their own separate and detailed posts).

To keep things simple, grab your beverage of choice and let me roll you through the room (in alphabetical order).

Bastion Cycles

Ben Schultz, James Woolcock and Dean McGeary came from the motoring industry and as the death knell sounded for Toyota in Australia they turned their attention to a shared passion involving two wheels not four.

Utilising 3D printed titanium lugs and fitting with use an internal lattice structure for strength at reduced weight, they bond their own carbon tubes to complete the frame.

All tubes and titanium printed parts are made to order which reduces waste and allows for customisation and tuning throughout.

Bastion Cycles

BAUM Cycles

Darren Baum and his equally talented team at 7 Seabright St, North Shore create the epitomy of a personalised custom bicycle experience of the highest standard not just in Australia, but globally.

Synonymous with high-end titanium road frames, the show was a chance to see the Baum range of DISC offerings in the flesh.

Beyond the superfine welds that Darren himself is known for is considered design and an incredibly high standard of detailing from his team - from paint to immaculate assembly.

Baum cycles

Bikes by Steve

A simple name for a complex process of laying masks, spraying layers, and polishing frames to perfection.

Steve Gardner has spent a huge portion of his life painting cars and has chosen to pursue painting frames and bicycle related products.

His chosen bike to display conveys the lengths and breadths he will go to for paint customisation. His work also featured on all the PROVA bikes, many of the Bastion frame sets and the Curve Air at the show.

Facebook: Bikes By Steve

CURVE CYCLING

Curve Cycling had their collaboration with Bastion Cycles on display.

The Curve AIR substitutes a titanium seat tube for carbon, using Bastion's experience in this field. A limited production run of 23 frames will be made with two seat tube options depending on the desired ride compliance.

Ryan Flinn of Curve rode the AIR from Melbourne to Sydney for the final stretch of the Indi-Pac this year.

The paint scheme was inspired by the Skingrowsback saddle-bag which each frame comes with.

https://www.curvecycling.com.au/

DAMU PLYCYCLES

DAvid MUrphy is DAMU Plycycles. First and foremost he is an artist and sculptor which a passion for bicycles.

As David decribes it, timber is 'the original carbon fibre' and as pleasing as the curves are to the eye, his bikes have been proven on the brutal pavé of Melburn-Roobaix.

Each Plycycle is made to measure from sustainably grown Australian timber. The material is capable of absorbing more vibrations without fatiguing than any other material.

Damu Cycles

DEVLIN CUSTOM CYCLES

Sean Doyle hails from Molendinar, Queensland and drove the 3500+ round trip journey to be part of this - his first Handmade show.

'Devlin Custom Cycles is a one man operation offering bespoke road, track, CX and mtb frames. Made to fit the individual, providing the perfect riding experience'

Wallis Paints in Devlin's hired gun and produced both classic and lively paint schemes.

Devlin Cycles

G.Duke

A toolmaker by trade, Geoff Duke builds classic lugged frames from Reynolds, Columbus and Dedacciai steel using silver solder.

Geoff also creates an array of steel lugged stems, and replica ATP Ray Gun stems for classic tragics.

G.Duke Frames

Gellie Custom

Ewen Gellie has a lifetime on engineering experience with bicycles and the automotive industry. His frames are race proven with durability and ride quality paramount when considering each custom design.

A very capable MTB rider in multiple disciplines, he has translated his skills in the saddle to the bikes he produces since the early 90's.

Gellie Custom Bike Frames

GOODSPEED

Myles Chandler is an industrial designer, which projects in his portfolio ranging from creating lush interior spaces to working on luxury yachts.

Luke Laffin picks the torch for this collaboration to create beautiful signature cantilevered frames using steel thin walled steel tubes.

A visual reminiscent of the Malvern Star Skidstar and Coronation frames.

Goodspeed

H TeCH

Hayden Francis of H Tech bikes is creating high-end performance road bikes using a level of engineering and materials prowess that belies his 20 years of age.

Darren Baum could not give high enough praise to this promising young manufacturer, describing the ride as 'like being in a Rolls Royce.'

Using mahogany or jarrah, a hollow wood structure is creating using CNC, with carbon through critical points for strength and ride quality.

H TECH BIKES

KUMO Cycles

Keith Marshall is one of the builders who participated at the first Australian Custom Bike Show. The evolution of his product reflects his personal choice of riding, always engrained with a sense of elegance and beautiful details.

Keith rode from his base camp of Fyshwick (Canberra) through the High Country to the show on the bike he displayed.

The RADonneur frame is currently in small batch production, assisted by his sous-chef of steel, Daniel Licastro.

Kumo Cycles

Llewellyn

Darrell 'Llewellyn' McCulloch is a unique builder. Creating incredible lugged steel statements, he is also generous in his time and knowledge to frame builders old and new in a bid to 'pass the torch' and keep the craft of bicycle building in Australia alive.

Darrell brought three frames to display, but far and away the lugged 'Colussus' was the standout on his display - outshining his Lucentezza model, one he is famous far.

Llewellyn Bikes

MOORO

Chris Morgan and Stuart Dash form the partnership that is Mooro Cycles. The Indigenous name is reflected in their logo, themes, and artists used to collaborate on projects.

The 'Wagyl' model pulled me back to being a child in the library reading 'The Rainbow Serpent'.

A combination of anodised frame detailing and hand painted components using automative 2K paint by Perth artist Bradley Kickett, creates a unique visual statement that is iconically Australian.

Mooro Cycles

PROVA

Fresh off the plane from Bespoked UK, Mark Hester of Prova displayed three categories of performance machines - Motorsport, Adventure and MTB.

The Prova Specialé (Road Disc) displays an exquisite use of stainless fittings, Prova carbon seat tube and finishing courtesy of Bikes by Steve.

Mark designs and tests all of the innovative 3D printed elements, which are embedded at critical points to overcome engineering issues without sacrificing strength or weight.

Watch. This. Space.

Prova Cycles

RICHARD WALKER

Though framebuilding is not his primary trade, Richard Walker is crafting classic lugged road frames from Reynolds tubing in his hometown of Blacktown, Sydney.

A wander through his flickr demonstrates he is capable of making things beyond bicycles - though it is clear that two wheels is his number one passion.

Richard Walker Bicycles

SOYUZ BIKES

Intergalatic Melbourne talent John Hall is making serious bikes for hauling loads with a vibrant exterior.

John's style comes through in all his work, and this new frame builder is no stranger to fabricating solutions - including the stands that all the show bikes used within days.

Though his website is currently sparse, his industrial creations are an insight of what is to come from his Brunswick workshop.

Soyuz Bikes

STOEMPER

Straight Outta Portland - Stoemper stamps its authority on steel and alumumium racing bikes for road and CX.

'Designed to be race the shit out of' is builder & painter Todd Gardner's mantra and has been fusing steel, ti and aluminium for over a decade.

Stoemper had a road and CX bike on show as well as the 'Bin Chicken Racer' on the Wheelworks Stand with some of their hoops.

Stoemper

TOR

A Tor is a rocky outcrop that rises abruptly atop a smooth summit. A fitting name for one of only two Mountain Bikes on display at the show.

Shane Flint is another gifted fabricator who's background is in large scale earthmoving and precision scientific measuring equipment.

MTB is his passion, and with a plethora of trails on his doorstep the TOR brand of his bikes was born.

Tor Bikes

TRISLED

Ben Goodall is a speed freak with World Records to prove it. While the fat cruiser was something Ben concocted a mere week before the show - his world class carbon HPV (Human Power Vehicle) is where he is most focused, designing and manufacturing them on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ben has pedalled the HPV to a speed of 113kph. It's a fascinating sport that two members of the BAUM team have a history in with great respect for the Trisled Team.

Trisled also offer cargo bikes and rickshaws with a payload capability few can match.

Trisled

WHEELWORKS

An amazing set of hoops can transform the way a bike rides and handles. Tristan Thomas launched Wheelworks in 2006 and it is now a team of dedicated specialists offering an array of handbuilt wheelsets for road, mountain and 'gravel' with a post-sales support and warranty to match the product.

Classic road wheelsets with MSW's continue to roll out the door even in this age of increasing disc domination, though they don't have the lifetime impact warranty offered for the Enduro wheelsets.

Transform your bike.

Wheelworks

From around the PAvillion

It's was a whirlwind weekend for all involved but I'm already excited about what next years show will bring - with the call already being answered from overseas by many new names wanting to participate.

These shows are crucial for small scale manufacturers to show their wares to a global audience. Much trend setting and innovation can be traced back to custom shows and continue to the push the envelope of possibilities.